Apparatus for massaging the scalp with rotating brushes



March 19, 1968 J. c. RANKIN 3,373,739

APPARATUS FOR MASSAGING THE SCALP WITH ROTATING BRUSHES Filed May 10,1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 zjj gdfl fiw Affomgw United States Patent3,373,739 APPARATUS FOR MASSAGING THE SCALP WITH ROTATING BRUSHES JohnCameron Rankin, P.O. Box 902, Montgomery, Ala. 36102 Filed May 10, 1965,Ser. No. 454,448 6 Claims. (Cl. 128-56) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREApparatus for massaging and exercising the scalp of the head embodying apair of downwardly and inwardly curved arms, on the lower ends of whichare mounted either hand operated or motor driven brushes, the brushesbeing mounted for universal movement relative to the head, and handlesimmediately associated with the brushes by means of which the brushesmay be moved inwardly and upwardly while rotating the same, thus toexercise the scalp.

This invention relates to apparatus for massaging and exercising thescalp of the head for the purpose of stimulating the flow of blood tothe roots of the hair, thereby exercising and toning the hair itself.

It is generally accepted that the loss of hair and continued loss ofhair, particularly among males, is due to the fact that for some reasonunknown to medical science, but generally with increasing age, the scalpbecomes drawn tautly over the skull. It is theorized by some that thistautness causes the individual blood vessels feeding each hair to bestarved, whereby the roots of the hair, being deprived of theirlife-giving fluids through the blood stream, simply die and fall out.

It has likewise been theorized and generally recognized that regular andvigorous exercise of the scalp is beneficial in maintaining andrestoring circulation to the roots of the hair. However, such exerciseheretofore has taken the form of manipulations on the scalp which tendfurther to stretch it, such exercises being commonly performed with thetips of the fingers, vibrating pad-like machines, etc.

With all the foregoing in mind, and with the idea that deep downcirculation of the blood to the individual roots of the hair in fact isbeneficial for such roots (although certainly, I do not claim that myinvention grows hair), I have provided a simple and efiicient apparatusfor getting such deep massaging of the scalp. Briefly, my inventionproceeds upon the theory that by engaging the sides of the headgenerally in the temple areas with a set of brushes of the like and thenmoving those members upwardly in pressing contact with the scalp, thescalp is caused to flex, wrinkle and knead, in an upward direction, thusimparting considerable movement and energy to the scalp, well beneaththe skin. In other words, by manipulating these brushes or massagingelements from lower positions toward the crown of the head, the scalp isbuckle-flexed, kneaded or rolled upwardly, resulting in a most unusualtype and degree of massage which has the effect of loosening the scalpand permitting the blood vessels therebeneath to supply the roots of thehair of the scalp. Further, I provide means to prevent the massagingelements from directly contacting the crown of the head, upon completionof the upward movement thereof. Still further, the massaging units,which may be rotary brushes or brushes which are hand operated through arelatively small arcuate turn upon each upward stroke, are mounted inuniversal manner so that on the upward stroke they lie against the headin proper manner.

Apparatus illustrating features of my invention is shown in theaccompanying drawings forming a part of this application, in which:

3 ,373,739 Patented Mar. 19, 1968 FIG. 1 is a front elevational viewshowing my improved apparatus applied to the scalp of a human head, thedotted line position indicating the position of the parts upon fullupward movement thereof;

FIG. 2 is a detail sectional view taken generally along line 2-2 of FIG.1 and slightly enlarged;

FIG. 3 is a detail sectional view taken generally along line 3-3 of FIG.2;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view, partly broken away and showing one ofthe motorized brush massage units;

FIG. 5 is a detail sectional view taken generally along line 5-5 of FIG.4;

FIG. 6 is a detail fragmental sectional view through one of theuniversal joint members on the lower ends of the supporting frame;

FIG. 7 is a perspective, small scale view of a nonmotorized version ofmy improved apparatus; and,

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic view showing one method of using my improveddevice.

'Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIGS. 1 to 6inclusive, my improved apparatus comprises a supporting frameworkembodying a pair of downwardly curved arms 10 and 11 disposed tostraddle the head. The arms 10 and 11 may he made of rod-like materialand may be pivoted at their upper ends 10* and 11 to a common connectingmember 12. The member 12 may be generally U-shaped in cross section asshown in FIG. 2 and may embody a lower wall section 12 and side walls 12The ends 10 and 11 of the arms 10 and 11 are pivotally connected to theside walls 12 by means of cross pins 13. The wall 12 extends outwardlybeneath the pivot pins 13 a distance sufficient to form stops byengagement with the arms 10 and 11, thus to limit inward movement of thelower ends of the arms substantially to the dotted line position shownin FIG. 1.

At the lower ends of the arms 10 and 11 I provide extensions or lowersections 14. The sections 14 are secured to the lower ends of the arms10 and ll by means of the male and female coupling elements 16 and 17shown in detail in [FIG- 6. Thus, the extensions 14 are free to rotategenerally in a plane embodying thelongitudinal axis of the lower ends ofthe arms 10 and 11.

Mounted on the lower ends of the extensions 14 are the brushing ormassaging units indicated generally by the numeral 18. In view of thefact that each of these units is identical a description of one willsufiice for both. First, it will be noted that each unit embodies anouter arcuate casing or housing 19. Outstanding lugs 21 are provided onthe housing. A pin 22 passes through these lugs 21 and through the lowerend of the extensions 14. Thus, the entire housing is substantiallyuniversally mounted relative to the head to be operated upon.

Each housing has a forwardly extending handle 23. Located generally atthe junction between the handle 23 and the housing 19 is the armature 24of an electric motor having a shaft 26 carried thereby and journalled at27 in an end wall 28 of the housing 19. The field winding is indicateddiagrammatically at 29. Current for the motor 24 is supplied throughleads 31 which enter the end of the handle 23 as shown. A branch lead 32carries current to the opposite one of the motors of the unit 18, thelead 32 being secured to the frame members 10 and 11 by clips 33 asshown in FIG. 1.

Surrounding the shaft 26 is the body portion 30 of an elongated,generally cylindrical brush carrying bristles 34. Thus, when the motor24 is energized the brush turns. Further, as shown clearly in FIG. 1 therighthandmost brush as viewed in that figure rotates clockwise in thedirection of arrow 36 while the lefthand one operates counterclockwisein the direction shown by the arrow 37.

I have found that it is important to select the proper length, size andstiffness of bristles in order for my improved device to be fullyeffective. By way of example, I have found that a brush embodying nylonbristles of about .025 inch in diameter, and having a length from thebody portion 30 of about one inch is entirely satisfactory. Thisstrength and length of bristle affords adequate scalp manipulationwithout uncomfortable stiffness. A speed of about 120 rpm. appears to besatisfactory.

From what has been described it is now possible to explain fully themethod of using my improved apparatus. First, while the user mayeffectively employ my improved device in a sitting, or upright standingposition, it sometimes is advantageous to employ the same while bendingover, that is, with the head generally lowered as shown in FIG. 8. Atall events, whatever the position of the operators body he grasps thehandles 23 in his hands and with the motors energized and the brushesturning in the direction of the arrows 3637, that is, with adjacentsurfaces moving upwardly, the user applies the brushes to the lowerportion of the head generally in the area of the temples. Starting inthis area the brushes are pushed more or less firmly inwardly, dependingupon the amount of exercise desired and the comfort thereof, and bothhands are moved upwardly, simultaneously, bringing the brush unitsgenerally to the position shown in dotted lines of FIG. 1. At thisposition the lower sides of the arms 10 and 11 contact the ends 38 ofthe wall 12 of the coupling unit 12, thus automatically limiting anyfurther inward movement of the brush units. During the upward movementof the units the scalp of the head is buckle-flexed, rolled or kneadedin an upward direction, producing deepdown exercise thereof.Furthermore, since the brush units are universally mounted relative tothe supporting arms 10 and 11, the user is quite easily enabled tomaintain the same in contact with the general contour of the head duringthe upward motion. Having reached the upper limit of the stroke asindicated by the engagement of the arms with the stops 38, the usercontinues the up movement until the bristles are clear of the head,whereupon he opens the unit, pulls the brushes down and places themagainst the head just above the ears and commences the stroke again.Again, the oppositely rotating brush surfaces engaging opposite sides ofthe head, in combination with the upward and inward movement of thebrushes, remaining in contact with the head, assure the rolling andkneading of the scalp as herein mentioned, consequently stimulating theflow of blood through the blood vessels in the subcutaneous layers ofthe scalp. Further, such kneading and upward rolling motions imparted tothe scalp tend to loosen it, not as heretofore attempted, by pressing itdownwardly, but by the kneading and rolling action in an upwarddirection. The degree and amount of stimulation may be regulated by theuser of the device by the amount of inward pressure that he applies tothe handles. Since the adjacent surfaces of the brushes rotate upwardly,the tendency is for the units to move down the head. Manually pushingthe brushes upwardly while they are attempting to roll downwardlygreatly magnifies the buckle-flexing of the scalp.

In FIG. 7 I show a somewhat simplified version of my improved device.This consists essentially in substituting for the motorized units 18hand brushes 39 which have the forwardly projecting handles 41. Exceptfor this substitution the unit of FIG. 7 is identical with the motorizedone. However, in operation instead of the brushes rotating the usergrasps the handles 14 and with the upward movement simply gives thebrushes a partial twist by twisting the wrist, thus buckle-flexing thescalp during upward movement of the brush units. The stop meansindicated at 38 is provided. Likewise, the universal mounting of thebrushes is maintained through the joint 16-17 and the mounting lugs 21and pin 22.

In FIG. 8 of the drawings I show my improved device being used by aperson with his body bent slightly forwardly and his head down. A t t ysi the device in this manner the natural flow of blood to the head isenhanced and it is believed to be more beneficial in securing andpromoting flow in the blood vessels leading to the individual hairs ofthe head. Such position is less tiring because the arms are moved to andfrom raised and lowered positions in a natural fashion.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have devised an improvedapparatus for vigorously exercising, massag ing and stimulating thescalp of the human head. As stated, I make no claim that my improvedapparatus actually will grow hair where hair once has grown and yet hasdied. On the other hand, I do claim that regular and conscientious useof my improved device will so stimulate the scalp, encourage the flow ofblood in underneath the skin areas and otherwise tone-up the scalp as tobe of important benefit in a person retaining what hair he has. I haveproven this to my own satisfaction. Further, I have found that providingsome means to stop the massaging adjacent the crown of the head itselfis important. Such means prevents pinching of the scalp in the crownarea and keeps the brushes from intermeshing.

While I have shown my invention in but two forms, it will be obvious tothose skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptibleof various changes and modifications without departing from the spiritthereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall beplaced thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In apparatus for massaging the scalp of a human head,

(a) a pair of arms having their lower ends disposed far enough apart tostraddle a human head,

(b) a scalp massage member in the form of a fore and aft elongated brushmounted adjacent the lower end of each arm for universal movementrelative to the head to be massaged, said brushes being also mounted forrotational movement about their longitudinal axes, and

(c) handle means located adjacent the lower ends of the arms for movingthe brushes toward each other whereby, starting with the brushesdisposed along the sides of the head in the temple areas, said brushesmay be moved upwardly along the head and inwardly toward each otherwhile being rotated, thereby to upwardly flex, roll and exercise thescalp.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which there is provided means tolimit movement of the massage members toward each other.

3. In scalp massaging apparatus,

(a) a frame embodying a pair of downwardly and inwardly curved memberspivoted together at their upper ends and of a length and spacing for thelower ends to lie alongside the head to be massaged,

(b) a fore and aft elongated brush mounted on the lower end of each ofsaid members for universal movement relative to the head to be massagedand also mounted for rotational movement about their longitudinal axes,

(c) handle means immediately associated with each brush by means ofwhich the user may press the brushes against the sides of the head andmove them upwardly of the head and inwardly toward each other whilerotating them, thereby flexing, working and exercising the scalp, and

(d) stop means effective to prevent the brushes from moving inwardlyinto contact with each other, whereby the fiexing of the scalp due toinward and upward movement of the brushes stops short of the crown ofthe head.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 in which the brushes are circular incross-section and motorized and are driven.

with adjacent surfaces thereof moving upwardly, there 5 by to accentuatethe upward rolling and flexing of the scalp.

5. In apparatus for massaging the scalp of a human head,

(a) a pair of brushes disposed one at each side of the head,

(b) a handle projecting from each brush and by means of which thebrushes may be manipulated from a position generally in the temple areasof the head upwardly,

(c) a supporting frame for said brushes embodying a pair of downwardlycurved members pivoted adjacent their upper ends whereby the lower endsmay move toward each other,

(d) an articulated joint connecting the brushes to the lower ends ofsaid members, whereby the brushes may be engaged with the head duringupward movement thereof, and

(e) stop means effective to limit inward pivotal movement of the curvedmembers, thereby preventing the brushes from contacting each other atthe conclusion of the upward massaging movement.

6. In apparatus for massaging the scalp of a human head,

(a) a pair of arcuate arms pivoted together at their upper ends, saidarms being disposed to straddle the head to be massaged with the lowerends thereof spaced outwardly of the sides of the head,

5 (b) an extension mounted at its upper end on the lower end of each armfor rotation generally in the plane of the lower end of its associatedarm,

(c) an elongated brush pivotally mounted adjacent the lower end of eachextension for rotation generally about its longitudinal axis, wherebythrough the combination of said pivots the brushes are universallyadjustable relative to the head to be massaged, (d) forwardly extendinghandles on the brushes, and (e) stop means on said arms limiting inwardmove- 15 ment of the brushes toward each other.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 20 1,933,989 11/1933 McCollough128-59 FOREIGN PATENTS 11/ 1930 Germany. 4/ 1931' Germany.

